For Verona Villafranca Airport (VRN), also known as Valerio Catullo, the standard recommendation is to arrive at least 2 hours before a domestic or European (Schengen) flight and 3 hours before a long-haul or non-Schengen international flight. While Verona is a relatively small and efficient airport, it can experience significant bottlenecks during the summer "Opera Season" and winter ski months when charter flights increase. The security area is compact, and if three or four flights are departing simultaneously, wait times can spike to 45 minutes. Furthermore, if you are flying with a low-cost carrier like Ryanair or Volotea, their bag-drop counters often have strict cut-off times 40–60 minutes before departure. If you are a non-EU resident needing a Tax-Free refund, add an extra 30 minutes, as the customs office is located before security and can sometimes have a queue. Generally, arriving early allows you to enjoy a quick espresso in the terminal without the stress of a last-minute sprint to the gate.